The records are divided into three series: an Administrative File; Correspondence, Reports, and Public Relations; and a Subject File. There are several gaps in the records, notably the incomplete files of minutes of meetings, but coverage is generally quite complete, particularly in the extensive subject file. All folders not specifically labelled national office are limited to material generated by the state organization.
The ADMINISTRATIVE FILE contains organizational, financial, lobbying, membership, and committee records. Organizational material, including the Articles of Incorporation, details the purpose and structure of Common Cause in Wisconsin. Filed under financial and budget material are letters relating to financial matters, reports from the national office, as well as budget schedules and printouts. There are yearly membership lists from Wisconsin and a “State Activist Profile” of national membership. Files of Steering, Executive, and Program Action committees contain agenda, minutes, correspondence, and reports of the three governing committees of the organization. The last folder of this series holds minutes, agenda, and correspondence concerning a variety of meetings, including statewide meetings, legislative banquets, annual district meetings, and national governing board meetings.
Records in the CORRESPONDENCE, REPORTS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS series were originally filed as a single unit by the office of Common Cause in Wisconsin. The general correspondence contains letters between government officials, Common Cause in Wisconsin members, and concerned citizens. These are letters which are not identifiable by subject or which do not warrant separate coverage in the subject file. They deal with issues related to the seniority system, highway trust fund, and the franking privilege, among others. Some correspondence is more administrative in content, concerning meetings, published articles of interest, and general information about Common Cause in Wisconsin activities. The correspondence from the national office of Common Cause is equally varied; it contains information about issues such as impeachment and legislative reform, and administrative matters such as nominations for the national governing board.
The reports from the national office include memoranda and cover a similar range of subjects including national membership reviews, legal advice, suggestions for state action, and information about such issues as the filibuster rule. The public relations segment consists of news releases, statements by the national president, and form letters to members. National office news releases deal with national subjects such as impeachment. Statements by Common Cause president John Gardner consist of speeches delivered to Congressional committees, Common Cause members and other groups on the general goals of Common Cause, issues such as the energy program, and elections. There are also some news releases specifically attributed to Gardner. Form letters to members contain fact sheets detailing information about current issues, and letters urging active support for Common Cause lobbying activities.
The SUBJECT FILE is alphabetically arranged and includes correspondence to and from state and national legislators, activists, and concerned citizens, and reports relating to the specific issues. The major files, Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of Interest-Ethics, are particularly rich coverage describing these controversial issues and the development of state legislation on them.
